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Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com .

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose and Scope:

The Congress Lead, Early Scientific Engagement and Communications will lead the strategic planning and execution of global scientific congress activities across the spectrum of preclinical, scientific (basic/translational), and medical congresses for early-stage assets. Reporting to the Head of Early Scientific Engagement and Communications, this role is positioned within the Quantitative Sciences & Evidence Generation (QSEQ) function. This embedded structure ensures a data-driven, evidence-backed approach that leverages biostatistics, real-world evidence (RWE), epidemiology, and medical writing to deliver compelling, scientifically rigorous presentations and materials for a diverse range of congresses, from discovery-oriented scientific meetings to large-scale medical conferences.

A core focus of this role is to translate discovery, preclinical, early-phase clinical insights, and quantitative evidence into high-impact congress deliverables, including abstracts, posters, oral presentations, and satellite symposia. This role will work closely with Research, Asset Maximization Teams (AMTs), and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to ensure that early-phase data is effectively disseminated at key global congresses to target the appropriate scientific audience—from basic researchers to clinicians—and maximize scientific engagement and value creation. Collaboration with Scientific Publications is essential to ensure all congress activities are aligned with overall publication plans and scientific communication platforms.

This role will oversee end-to-end congress management for the early pipeline, from strategic audience analysis and abstract development through onsite execution and post-congress dissemination. The Associate Director will also leverage congress content to develop derivative materials for re-use across multiple channels, ensuring a consistent and impactful scientific narrative from bench to bedside.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Congress Strategy & Planning

+ Develop and implement the global scientific congress strategy for early-stage assets, identifying and prioritizing key preclinical, scientific, and medical congress targets to align with the asset's stage of development and target audience.

+ Lead cross-functional congress planning meetings with Research, AMTs, SMEs, and Scientific Publications to align on data selection, audience-specific messaging, and format (abstract, poster, oral presentation).

+ Partner with QSEQ and Research teams to ensure congress content is grounded in robust data analysis, from preclinical candidate selection to early clinical and real-world evidence.

+ Manage the end-to-end abstract and presentation submission process for all congress types, ensuring compliance with congress deadlines and guidelines.

Content Development & Execution

+ Lead the development of high-quality, scientifically accurate congress materials tailored to the specific audience, including preclinical data for scientific congresses and early clinical data for medical congresses (abstracts, posters, slide decks, presenter briefs).

+ Provide strategic guidance on data visualization and storytelling to maximize impact for diverse audiences, from discovery scientists to healthcare professionals.

+ Oversee the review and approval process for all congress materials, facilitating cross-functional alignment between Research, Development, and Medical Affairs, and ensuring compliance with internal policies.

+ Manage agency partners and vendors supporting content development and onsite logistics, ensuring timely delivery and quality outputs.

Onsite & Post-Congress Management

+ Develop and execute comprehensive onsite plans for major scientific and medical congresses, including presenter preparation, booth content coordination, and stakeholder engagement activities.

+ Gather competitive intelligence and scientific insights from congress engagements to inform internal research and development strategy and communication plans.

+ Lead post-congress debriefs and leverage content for further dissemination through publication extenders, digital platforms, and internal communications.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

+ Ensure close collaboration with Research Heads and Scientific Publications to align preclinical and scientific congress activities with overall publication plans and scientific communication platforms.

+ Partner with Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, and Early Research teams to ensure congress content supports scientific exchange and engages the full spectrum of stakeholders, from key opinion leaders in basic science to clinical investigators.

+ Collaborate with Corporate Communications to align on external messaging and press release strategies related to congress data presentations.

+ Engage with regulatory and compliance teams to ensure all congress activities adhere to industry regulations and company policies.

Qualifications:

Required

+ Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, or MD) in Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.

+ 7+ years of experience in scientific communications, medical affairs, or publications within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with significant focus on congress planning and execution across both scientific (e.g., AACR, ASGCT) and medical (e.g., ASCO, AAO) congresses.

+ Strong expertise in developing a wide range of congress materials, from preclinical abstracts and posters to early clinical data presentations.

+ Proven experience managing end-to-end congress processes and vendor relationships. • Excellent scientific writing, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to tailor messages for different scientific audiences.

+ Ability to translate complex data—from bench research to early clinical results—into compelling congress presentations and materials.

+ Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred:

+ 10+ years of experience in scientific communications with a demonstrated focus on congress activities for early-stage assets.

+ Deep understanding of the drug development process from discovery through Proof of Concept (POC).

+ Global congress management experience with a proven track record at major preclinical and medical congresses.

+ Established relationships with key congress organizations and a network within the scientific community.

+ Experience developing and implementing congress processes and best practices.

+ Flexibility to travel internationally to attend major scientific and medical congresses.

This role is critical for ensuring Astellas' early-phase data, from discovery through early clinical development, achieves maximum impact at targeted global congresses, enhancing the company's scientific reputation and supporting value creation through strategic, audience-specific data dissemination.

Salary Range

$150K – $195K (NOTE: Final salary could be more or less, based on experience)

Benefits:

+ Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

+ Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks

+ 401(k) match and annual company contribution

+ Company paid life insurance

+ Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions

+ Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions

+ Referral bonus program

\#LI-SS

Category Quantitative Sciences & Evidence Generation

Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.

EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans